10 Leadership Qualities Linked to High-Performing Companies
B2 ESL lesson based on Visual Capitalist information about leadership accountability, company performance and survey findings.
B2Business EnglishLeadership
Before you read
This lesson explores why accountability-related leadership qualities are linked to stronger company performance. You will read an adapted text, study vocabulary from the graphic, and practise grammar for reporting survey findings.
Warm-up
1. What makes a leader accountable?
2. Why might “having tough conversations” be important in business?
3. Do employees perform better when leaders are optimistic about the future?
Read the adapted B2 text. Reveal answers in the white boxes and highlight exact evidence in the text.
High-performing companies can be different in size, industry and strategy. However, a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. professionals suggests that people in successful companies often value one thing very highly: accountable leadership.
The survey found that employees at high-performing companies gave higher importance to accountability-related leadership behaviours than employees at average or poor-performing companies. These behaviours include taking ownership, speaking honestly and helping teams understand what they are responsible for.
The highest-rated quality was personal ownership. In simple terms, this means that a leader does not blame others or hide behind excuses. An accountable leader leads by example and sets a higher standard of behaviour for the people around them.
Many of the qualities in the graphic are connected to clarity. Leaders need to understand the company strategy, know their own role and help others see how their work contributes to the bigger picture. This becomes especially important during periods of change, when employees need direction, resilience and confidence.
The research also highlights optimism and resolve. Strong leaders do not pretend that problems are easy, but they show confidence that progress is possible. They also avoid disappearing when the work becomes uncomfortable. Having tough conversations and facing difficult challenges helps employees see a leader as strong and accountable.
The final message is that accountability is not an abstract idea. It can be described through specific behaviours and practised over time. When leaders take real ownership of their role, companies are better able to turn strategy into action.
Questions
1. What type of leadership behaviour did employees at high-performing companies value more?
They valued accountability-related leadership behaviours more highly.
2. What does personal ownership mean for a leader?
It means leading by example and setting a higher standard of behaviour.
3. Why does clarity matter during change?
Because employees need direction, resilience and confidence during periods of change.
4. Why are tough conversations important?
They help employees see a leader as strong and accountable.
5. What happens when leaders take real ownership?
Companies are better able to turn strategy into action.
Vocabulary
Exercise 1: Choose the best meaning
Click an answer. It turns green if correct and red if incorrect.
1. What does accountability mean?
avoiding difficult decisions
being responsible for actions and results
working without a manager
2. What does lead by example mean?
give long instructions
copy another company
show the behaviour you expect from others
3. What does resilience mean?
the ability to recover after difficulty
the wish to avoid responsibility
the habit of changing jobs often
4. What does resolve mean in a leadership context?
confusion about priorities
determination to continue
a short company meeting
5. What does momentum mean?
a formal complaint
a secret strategy
forward movement or progress
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences
1. Leaders who take ______ do not blame others for every problem.
ownership
pressure
strategy
2. During change, employees need ______ about priorities and direction.
excuses
uncertainty
clarity
3. Strong leaders do not ______ away from hard tasks.
translate
shrink
survey
4. Accountability helps companies translate strategy into ______.
action
silence
hesitation
Grammar: Reporting survey findings
Focus: Use the passive voice and reporting verbs to describe research without sounding too personal.
Examples: The survey was conducted with more than 1,000 professionals. Accountability was rated highly by employees at high-performing companies. The findings suggest that leadership behaviour is linked to company performance.
Exercise 1: Choose the correct passive form
1. The survey ___ with more than 1,000 professionals.
conducted
was conducted
was conducting
2. Accountability behaviours ___ more highly in successful companies.
were rated
rated
were rating
3. The results ___ a link between leadership and performance.
are suggested
were suggesting by
suggest
Exercise 2: Rewrite in a more formal reporting style
1. Researchers asked 1,020 people about leadership.
1,020 people were asked about leadership.
2. People in high-performing companies gave accountability high scores.
Accountability was given high scores by people in high-performing companies.
3. The graphic shows ten important leadership qualities.
Ten important leadership qualities are shown in the graphic.
Exercise 3: Use reporting verbs
Choose the best verb to report the finding.
1. The findings ___ that clarity is important during change.
deny
suggest
hide
2. The data ___ that personal ownership is highly valued.
indicates
complains
interrupts
3. The article ___ that accountability can be taught through behaviour.
prevents
removes
argues
Discussion
Talk about it
1. Which leadership quality in the graphic is most important?
2. Can accountability be taught, or is it a personality trait?
3. Why do some leaders avoid tough conversations?
4. How can a company make accountability part of its culture?
Useful language
Giving an opinion: I would argue that...
Referring to data: The survey suggests that...
Adding nuance: This may depend on...
Agreeing partly: I agree up to a point, but...
Mini task
Choose three qualities from the graphic and write a short paragraph explaining why they could improve company performance.
